February 19th 2014
The following was an email sent from Ben Brock, our Director of Outdoor Education, to parents of our Grade 10 students last week.
Dear Parents,
Just wanted to say that despite some of the most challenging conditions I’ve ever led a trip in, I had a wonderful time with the Grade 10 class these last few days.
As we climbed up Bogus and it continued to rain even as we pulled into the Nordic Center, we knew we were in for a “treat.” After making the decision to send one group directly to the yurt to get it heated up, the other group proceeded to our campsite as planned to give it our best shot.By about 2:00pm, however, it was clear that, despite our best efforts, a night in snow caves and tents was just not in the cards. You’ve all seen pictures of the resulting evening that we (all 32 of us!!) spent “drying out” in the yurt.
Luckily Thursday brought us clearer skies and we were able to travel back to our campsite, about a 35-minute snowshoe from the yurt, and spend the day completing our unfinished snow caves, analyzing a pretty uniquely saturated snowpack and generally enjoying the temporary lack of rain. We headed back to the yurt for dinner, built another snow cave for good measure, and even had four hearty souls decide to sleep out under the “stars” even with snow in the forecast.
This morning, as the rain returned, we spent about an hour talking through some of the challenges we faced and how we overcame them, and about how some backcountry concepts such as “summit fever,” and the “halo effect” can be avoided (ask your kids…). We also talked about how, when things get tough, and decisions are made quickly, mistakes become more likely (in our urgency to get moving and have as much time as possible to get camps constructed food went to the yurt). A saying I introduced to them is “slow is smooth and smooth is fast.” A few extra minutes double-checking our sleds would have saved significant amount of time and energy.
In all, many good lessons were learned on this trip, as is often the case when you find yourself in trying circumstances. It wasn’t the trip we envisioned when we put it on the calendar in July, but it was well worth it.
Thank you all for trusting me with the safety of your children.
And finally, none of it would have been possible without Lisa Armstrong and Tami Dougherty; they are incredibly caring and competent…and fun! I’d go on a trip with them anytime!
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